The Bronx District Attorney’s Office has organized a team of prosecutors tasked with examining claims of sexual assault at Rikers Island made by former inmates against jail staff.
The initiative also includes establishing a victim tip line to aid in the investigation process.
According to a Gothamist report, a review of over 700 lawsuits filed by ex-detainees depicted a widespread culture of sexual abuse within the facility, including incidents of groping, forced oral sex, and rape.
The allegations, which represent nearly 60% of all lawsuits filed under New York City’s Adult Survivors Act in state supreme courts, accuse both the city and the Department of Correction of neglecting the safety of those in their custody.
The Adult Survivors Act had provided a temporary period, which ended last November, for victims to file civil claims beyond the usual statute limitations.
“We are in contact with attorneys representing several hundred of the plaintiffs to assess their interest in speaking with our office,” said Patrice O’Shaughnessy, spokesperson for the Bronx DA’s office.
The office is now adopting a proactive strategy by reaching out to the legal representatives of the affected former detainees.
The Bronx DA’s approach includes collaboration between the Public Integrity Bureau and the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau—two units established in 2016 by District Attorney Darcel Clark—to handle crimes within the jail complex.
These bureaus will work alongside sex crimes prosecutors to engage with any claimants interested in pursuing criminal charges based on their civil allegations of sexual abuse.
Anna Kull, an attorney at Levy Konigsberg who has filed numerous lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act, emphasized the urgency of bringing perpetrators to justice.
“If they’re not brought to justice immediately, they will continue to harm other women in the same manner,” Kull stated, stressing the need for vigilance and cooperation.
Meanwhile, Adam Slater, a partner at the law firm Slater Slater Schulman, called for an extensive law enforcement investigation into the criminal activities at Rikers and other New York state correctional facilities.
The Bronx DA’s renewed focus on these allegations comes after a series of promises from local politicians spurred by Gothamist’s findings.
Mayor Eric Adams has advocated for a comprehensive investigation, and state legislators are considering proposals to extend the filing period for claims under the Adult Survivors Act.
The City Council’s criminal justice committee also plans a special hearing, while the Department of Correction collaborates with the law department to address the ongoing litigation, maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on sexual abuse.
